Washing-machine



(No Model.)

E. E. UNANGST.

WASHING MACHINE.

Nall/16,800. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

UNTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD E. UNANGST, OF NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,800, dated February17, 1891.

Application filed October 17, 1890. Serial No. 368,394. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. UNANGsr,

Va citizen of the United States, residing at Nazareth, in the county ofNorthampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulVashingMachine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to washing-machines known as vibratingg andthe objects of the invention are to reduce the number of parts andsimplify the construction thereof, to increase the durability, and tofacilitate the general assemblage of the elements going to make up thecompleted machine.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear;.and the invention consists in certain novel features andcombination of parts, hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims. g

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a washing-machineconstructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vcrticallongitudinal section on the line :r oc of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail inperspective of the gear-supportin g standard. Fig. et is a similar viewof the leg-connecting frame orbracketfastening. Fig. 5 is a detail inplan of a portion of the rubbingdiead. Fig. G is an enlarged detail intransverse section of the connection between the rubber and theoperating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the operating-crank andits shaft.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

1 designates the usual suds-box, in this instance cylindrical in shapeand supported above the ground or floor by the legs 2, located atsuitable intervals.

3 designates the leg-supporting frame, cast of malleable iron andcomprising opposite vertical side bars et, the lower ends of which areinwardly curved, as at 5, and terminate in laterallydisposed perforatedsecuringlugs 6. The bars i are connected at their lower ends by thet-ransverse keeper-bar 7, at the upper ends of the curved portions bythe transverse keeper-bar S, which, as will be seen, is out of verticalalignment with the lower bar 7, and at their upper ends are connected bya transverse socket 9, at'each end of which are located transverseperforated securing lugs or ears 10, similar to thelugs or ears G, andWithin the socket is located a pair of inward ly-disposed spurs 11. Asthus described, the frame is formed integral or of a single casting, andby means of screws passed through,

the perforated lugs or ears G and 10 said castings are secured to thesides of the suds-box or tub. Previous to such securing the lugs 2 areinserted between the keepers 7 and 8, so that their upper ends rest inthe sockets 9, and by a few taps of the hammer or other tool the spurs11 are driven into the legs near their upper ends, so that after thecastings are secured in position the legs are retained therein. Byreason of the curving of the lower ends of the bars 4t and a beveling ofthe upper ends of the legs upon their inner faces said legs arevertically maintained, although, as shown, the sides of the suds-box ortub are inclined. y

The suds-bon is provided with the "usual cover l2, having a centralopening 13, to one .edge of which is hinged, as at 15, the lid 14C,

the opposite end of the lid overlapping the cover and provided oppositethe center of the opening 13 with a perforation or opening 1G.

17 designates the gear-supporting casting, (best shown in Fig. 3,) andthe same consists of a triangular base-plate 1S, provided at its angleswith screw-receiving openings 19, and at its widest portion with avertical standard 20, terminating at its upper end in a transversebearing-boss 21. At its opposite end the casting is provided with adepending hollow stud 22, which, when the casting is secured in positionupon the lid by means of screws or bolts passed through the openings 19of .its base and the lid, depends throughbelow and snugly fits theopening 16 of the lid. In rear of the casting 17, and in transversealignment with the bearingA 21 of its vertical standard, there issecured to the lid a standard 23, which at its upper end is providedwith a bearing-boss 24, in alignment with the bearingboss 21, justmentioned. A shaft 25 is journaled in the two bearings 21 and 2a and hasits ends extending beyond the same, and at its inner end has mountedrigidly thereon a beveled gear 2G. lhc opposite or outer end ol theshalt is beveled or cut away at diametrieally-opposite sides, as

at 27, and its extremity is threaded to receive a nut 2S.

99 designates the operating-handle, and the same is provided at itsinner end with a V- shaped rectangular opening adapted to ht the beveledend of the shaft and beheld in 1 o position thereupon by the nut 28. Thehandle is adapted for oscillation or vibration, and for a purposehereinafter apparent the shaft Q5 may be given a half-rotation to applythe handle in two opposite positions thereupon.

designates a stub-shaft mounted for rotation in the depending hollowstud The upper end ot the shaft is provided with an integrally-formedsmall beveled pinion 231, engaged and driven by the gear 20, and at its2o lower end is provided with a threaded opcning 32. The lower end ofthe shaft 30 is provided with a reduced bearing tenen or stud 825.

The rubbing-head consists of a metal ring 3i, from the center of whichradiates a series 25 of arms or spokes 35, which are connected at theirinner ends by a circular-bored hub 3G. The head is formed of cast metaland open, as shown, to secure lightness. At diametrically-opposite sidesof the head the arms are 5o provided with elongated openings 3T, inwhich are secured the upper ends of depending rubbers 3S. As beforestated, the hub is eentrally bored, and through the same, from the underside into the shaft 30, is passed the screw 3S). 'lhe reduced end of theshaft 30 passes through and slightly beyond the central perforation ofthe hub, and said hub is provided with a vertical flange t-O, upon whichrests and rides the lower end of the shaft. .lhe to hub is also providedwith an annular ilange 4l, which embraces loosely the lower end of thedepending hollow stud 22.

The operation of the machine will at once be apparent from the abovedescription, and

it simply requires that the handle 29 should be vibrated back andfortlnso as to partially rotate the gear 26 and wholly rotate the smallpinion 3l, which is somewhat less than half the diameter of the gear 2G.This causes a- 5o vibration of the rubbing-head, and the clothing withinthe tub or suds-box is thoroughly agitated andthe dirt loosened anderadicated therefrom.

It will be observed that it the pinion 3l were not of the relative sizestated with regard to the gear 26 one side ot' the shaft i0 and thehollow stud Q2 would receive all or the major portion of the wear andsoon became loose and worthless. ly such relative proportion,

6o however, the pinion wears evenly, both as regards its shatt,itsteeth, and its bearing. By removing the handle 29 and giving the shaft25 a half-rotation and reapplying said handle it will be observed thatthe opposite half ofthe series of teeth et the gearQG are brought intoengagement and operation with the pinion, so that the teeth oi the gearare evenly worn and the durability ot i'lie gear increased. It will beobserved that the casting 1T and the casting f3, and also therubbing-head casting, may all be conveniently and cheaply cast and theparts readily assembled without thel necessity of any great amount oflabor or the employment ot' a useless number of bolts, screws, the., aptto becolne loosened by the workings ot' the machine. It desired, onlytwo spokes or radiating arms 35 may connect the rim or ring of therubbing-head with the hub thereof, such being employed forthe purpose offorming a support for the depending rubbers, though I prefer to employ aseries of such arms.

ln numerous cases where solid rubbing heads are employed-by which l meansimply one or more radiating bars for supporting the rubbing-pegs orrubbers and unconnected at their outer ends-it has been found that thearticles of clothing undergoing the operation of washing ride over theupper sides of the bars and get twisted and caught between the same andthe lid, whereby they are torn and rendered useless. l y the employmentof the rim, however, I obviate such disadvantage and the ends ot thearms cannot engage with the clothes. Such advantage is further increasedby increasing the number of arms, as shown, which further prevents thepossibility of the clothing rising or working up inside of the ring,although, as before stated, the ring has been found to answer thepurpose.

ll'aving described my invention, what l claim ism l. In awashi11g-machine, the combination, with the side wall thereof, of theherein-described leg-easting, consisting of the opposite vertical sidebars 4, the lower ends of which are inwardly curved, as at 5, thekeeper-bars 7 and S, arranged out of alignment and connecting the sidebars at and above their lower ends, the socket 0, located at the upperend of the casting and having the upper and outer closed sides, thelatter upon its inner sufaco having the spurs ll, the opposite pairs ofperforated lugs 6 and l0, secured to the wall of the tub, and the legsinserted between the keepers and side bars and having their up per endsterminating in the socket and engaged by the spurs thereof,substantially as specified.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination, with the lid thereof having anopening, of a gear-supportin g casting mounted therein and provided witha depending hollow stud, a master-gear, and means for operating the samesupported above the base, a short shaft having a small pinion at itsupper end cngaged by said gear mounted in the stud and, terminatingimmediately below the stud, at which point it is reduced to form a boredinteriorly and exteriorly threaded tenen, arubbingdicad comprisingradiating arms, a cen IOO IIO

tral opening for the reception of the tenen, In testimony that- I claimthe foregoing as provided with an annular bearing-flange for my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in the support of the shaft and outsideof the presence of two witnesses.

same with an annular flange encircling the lower end of the stud of thecasting, and a EDVARD E. UNANGST. screw inserted through the tenonand-having Witnesses: its head taking under the rubbing-head, sub- J. H.SIGGERS, stantially as specified. E. G. SIGGERS.

